Drink extraction apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is composed of a drink extraction portion, a drink container for storing drink extracted by the drink extraction portion, a heat retention chamber surrounding the drink container, a fan for supplying air to the heat retention chamber for air circulation, and a heater for heating air supplied to the heat retention chamber by the fan to make warm air, the warm air heating the drink container to keep drink therein warm.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A drink extraction apparatus comprising: 
       a drink extraction portion;  
       a drink container for storing drink extracted by the drink extraction portion;  
       a heat retention chamber surrounding the drink container said heat retention chamber being composed of a lateral wall surrounding a peripheral surface of the drink container;  
       a bottom wall for receiving a bottom surface of the drink container;  
       an upper wall having an opening portion for covering a top of the drink container and for extracted drink falling from the drink extraction portion to the drink container;  
       a fan for supplying air to the heat retention chamber for air circulation; and  
       a heater for heating air supplied to the heat retention chamber by the fan to make warm air,  
       the warm air heating the drink container to keep the drink therein warm.  
     
     
       2. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
       on the lateral wall there are formed an air outlet for blowing out air sent from the fan toward the heat retention chamber, and an air inlet for sucking air in the heat retention chamber and returning the air to the fan.  
     
     
       3. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein part of the air blown out from the air outlet is directed toward a lower side of the drink container. 
     
     
       4. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein part of the lateral wall is made of a door for locating the drink container in and out. 
     
     
       5. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the door is composed of a pair of biparting right and left doors. 
     
     
       6. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein an opening portion for exposing a grip of the drink container outside is formed in the joint portion of the pair of the right and left doors. 
     
     
       7. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least a lateral wall of the heat retention chamber has a heat insulation structure. 
     
     
       8. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the heat insulation structure is composed of an air layer. 
     
     
       9. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to the heat retention chamber, and a control unit for turning on and off the heater based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to control the temperature of air in the heat retention chamber. 
     
     
       10. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensor is attached to a radiation fin provided on the heater or in the vicinity of the radiation fin. 
     
     
       11. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein 
       the door is mounted rotatably around a rotation axis,  
       an inner door is extensively provided in the vicinity of the rotation axis of the door so as to protrude inside a container housing case when the door is closed and to cover an opening portion of the container when the door is opened, and  
       a notch is provided on the door for allowing the grip of the container to protrude outside.  
     
     
       12. The container housing case as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the inner door is in a cylinder shape. 
     
     
       13. The container housing case as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the inner door is in a board shape. 
     
     
       14. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a straightening vane is provided on the lateral wall for guiding air to flow along the periphery of the container. 
     
     
       15. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
       the drink extraction portion is composed of:  
       a feedwater tank;  
       a water boiler tank having a heater;  
       a feedwater pipe for connecting the water boiler tank and the feedwater tank;  
       a bucket provided above the drink container for accommodating extract; and  
       a discharge pipe for discharging hot water from the water boiler tank into the bucket,  
       the heat retention chamber being provided under the bucket, and the fan and the heater being provided behind the heat retention chamber and under the water boiler tank.  
     
     
       16. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein 
       the drink extraction portion is further composed of a steam pipe extending to an upper side from the water boiler tank and protruding inside the feedwater tank,  
       the feedwater tank has an opening opened upwardly for receiving water,  
       a water receiving cover having a perforated portion for allowing received water to pass therethrough is mounted in a demountable way on the feedwater tank so as to cover the opening of the feedwater tank, and  
       the water receiving cover is provided with a small chamber opened downwardly for covering an upper side of the steam pipe.  
     
     
       17. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein 
       above the perforated portion of the water receiving cover, a filter for filtering received water is disposed.  
     
     
       18. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a recessed portion is provided on the water receiving cover to form the perforated portion on a bottom of the recessed portion. 
     
     
       19. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a leg portion extending downside is provided on the peripheral verge of the water receiving cover, and a lower end of the leg portion is brought into contact with a bottom of the feedwater tank. 
     
     
       20. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein an engagement groove extending in the vertical direction is provided on an outer surface of the leg portion of the water receiving cover, and a protruding bar, for engaging with the engagement groove, is provided in a protruding way on a lateral wall of the feedwater tank. 
     
     
       21. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the engagement groove is formed to have a width narrowed toward a lower side. 
     
     
       22. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 20 , wherein an opening verge of the engagement groove is provided with a protruding portion that is tightly fitted into the protruding bar. 
     
     
       23. The drink extraction apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein an engagement protruding portion is provided on an outer surface of the leg portion of the water receiving cover, and a protrusion for engaging with the engagement protruding portion is provided in a protruding way on a lateral wall of the feedwater tank.